This proposal is for the development of a fast imaging spectro-polarimeter for the measurement of spatial, spectral, and polarization signatures of both targets and backgrounds for improving target recognition and discrimination. The proposed innovative snapshot imaging sensor provides spatial, spectral, and polarization information on each pixel in the longwave infrared wavelength band at each frame time. This unique approach elimanates scanning through the spectrum as required by conventional approaches and provides for rapid construction of spatial, spectral, and polarization data sets including all four Stokes vectors for each pixel at each wavelength. The proposed instrument design is field portable and has no moving parts. The proposed project builds on developments at the University of Arizona's Optical Detection Laboratory and provides the most comprehensive and versatile sensor developed to date.
